BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:23

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:23

 

yadi hy aham na varteyam

jatu karmany atandritah

mama vartmanuvartante

manusyah partha sarvasah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

yadi--if; hi--certainly; aham--I; na--do not; varteyam--thus engage;

jatu--ever; karmani--in the performance of prescribed duties;

atandritah--with great care; mama--My; vartma--path;

anuvartante--would follow; manusyah--all men; partha--O son of Prtha;

sarvasah--in all respects.

 

TRANSLATION

 

For if I ever failed to engage in carefully performing prescribed

duties, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path.

 

PURPORT

 

In order to keep the balance of social tranquillity for progress in

spiritual life, there are traditional family usages meant for every

civilized man. Although such rules and regulations are for the

conditioned souls and not Lord Krsna, because He descended to

establish the principles of religion He followed the prescribed rules.

Otherwise, common men would follow in His footsteps, because He is the

greatest authority. From the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is understood that

Lord Krsna was performing all the religious duties at home and out of

home, as required of a householder.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.